Universal fixture



M w, 1923. c. T-. MALE UNIVERSAL FIXTURE Filed June 15. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATToNEY.

July m 1923. 3,461,668

C. T. MALE UNIVERSAL FIXTURE Filed June 13 1921 2 Sheets-Shea 2 f i. w, :5

Patented July 10, 1923.

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COURTNEY '1. MALE, OF SCHENECTAIDY, NEW YORK.

UNIVERSAL FIXTURE.

Application filed June '13, 1921. Serial No. 477,258.

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, COURTNEY T. MALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady and State of New York, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in a- Universal Fixture, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a universal fixture for milling machines, planers, drill presses, shapers and the like and has for its principal object to provide a device of this nature which insures accuracy of work, not only one piece of work butwhere multiple production is required each piece of work turned out will result in the same degree of accuracy as the one preceding it.

Another object of the invention is the elimination of gig making, blocks, clamps, bolts, set-ups, and other similar devices now commonly in use in the well known set-up method.

Another object of the invention is to save considerable amount of time which is consumed in the process now commonly in use.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a device of this nature which will be of extremely simple, durable and inexpensive construction,'one which is eflicient and reliable in operation, and well adaptedto the purposes for which it is designed.

With these and numerous other objects, in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and the combina tion and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter 'fully described and claimed.

' In the drawing Figure 1 is an elevational view partlyin section of the fixture.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, I

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrow,

Figure 6 is a similar view taken on the line 66 of Figure 2looking in the direction of the arrow,

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the dial which is keyed to a trunnion being shown in section,

Figure 8 is an edge elevational view of this dial, and

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail'view taken elongated slot 7.

substantially on the line 99 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that the numerals l and 2 represent brackets preferably of the L-type which are provided with ribs 3 for bracing purposes and cleats 4 on their base which may be in serted in suitable grooves on a support so i that these brackets may be positioned in the same plane at all times and will be securely prevented from movement in relation to the table after tliebase is secured by screws passing through. the apertures 5 or in any other suitable manner. a The table' 6 which is revolubly mounted between the brackets 1, and 2 is provided with an elongated slot 7 and a plurality of square apertures 9. The slot 7 is provided with the ledges 8 in its side walls as shown to advantage in Figures 1 and 2. The trunnions 10 and 11 extend from opposite ends of the table 6 and are suitably journaled in the brackets 1 and 2 so that the table may be revolved by means which will be later described. A fixed jaw 12 rests upon the table '6 and is provided with a square bolt shank 13 which passes through one of the apertures 9 and is locked in place by means of a wing nut 14. A movable jaw 15 which is provided upon its bottom edge with a rib 15 is mounted on the table so as to rest thereon while its rib 15 rests upon the ledges 8. A bolt shank 16 extends from the movable jaw 15 through the slot 7 and is securely locked in place by means of a wing nut 17. A strengthening rib 18 is provided on the bottom face of the table 6 and has apertures 19 registering with apertures 9 and an elongated slot 20 registering with the If so desired this strengthening rib 18 may be made integral with the table 6. A block 21 rests upon theledges 8 and has a bolt shank 22 extending through slots 7 and 20 and is locked in place by means of a wing nut 23. A screw element 24 passes through the block 21 and is threadedly mounted therein. One'end of this screw element 24 is swivelly connected to the movable jaw 15 in any suitable manner as is illustrated for example in Figure 9 while the other end thereof is provided with a fixed nut 25 so as to aid in the rotation of the screw element. The square shank 13 will not only securely hold the fixed jaw 12 in snug engagement with the table 6 but it will also prevent the rotation thereof. The rotation of the movable jaw 15 is prevented by the rib engaging the ledge 8. When it is desired to secure a piece of work to the table it is placed between the jaws 12 and 15. The jaw 15 will be in loose engagement with the table 6 at this time. The screw element 24 will now be used to force the movable jaw 15 in snug engagement with the work. This is done by tightening the wing nut 23 so as to fix the block 21 in a stationary position. The screw element 24; is then rotated so as to force the movable block 15 in engagement with the work. After it is in snug engagement therewith the wing nut 17 will be screwed tightly and it will be readily seen that the work will be securely held in engagement with the table and accidental removal thereof will be quite impossible.

In order to revolve the table 6 I have provided a worm gear 25 keyed to the trunnion 11. This worm gear 25' is situated within the casing 26 which is part of the bracket 2. This casing 26 is provided with aremovable cap 27 so that access may be had to its interior for proper lubrication of its contents and repair thereof. A shaft 28 is journaled in the casing and passes therethrough at right angles to the trunnion 11 as shown to advantage in Figure 3. This shaft 28 is provided with a worm element 29 in engagement with the worm gear 25. That portion of the shaft 28 whichextendsbeyond the bracket 2 is provided with an operating mechanism 30 which consists of a wheel 31 slidably mounted on the shaft 28 and capable of independent rotation thereof. This wheel 21 is provided with a clutch element 1 82 adapted to engage the clutch element 33 and when these clutch elements are in engagement with each other it will be seen that rotationof the wheel 31 will rotate the table 6 through the intermediacy of the shaft 28, worm '29, worm gear 25, and the trunnion 11. l/Vhen the table 6 has been rotated or revolved to the desired position the wheel 31 will be moved so as to separate the clutch elements 32 and 33 whereby it will not be possible to rotate the table 6 since the worm gears 25 cannot actuate the worm element 29. Furthermore it will be noted that accidental engagement with the operating mechanism 30 will not revolve the table since the clutch elements are separated.

Owing to the fact that in order to do aecurate work it is absolutely necessary that the table 6 be in a'fixed position, I have provided an additional spacing or locking device. This consists of a T-slotted race 34: which is curved and arranged on the innor face of the verticalpo'rtion-of the bracket 2. This race 34: is preferably semi-circular table to the bracket 2 in the best possible manner.

A dial 38 is keyed to the trunnion 11 so as to revolve therewith and. is situated ad j acent the outer face of the casing 26'. This dial is provided with suitable indices'39' which cooperate with the indicator- 40 cal ried onthe casing 26 so as toascertain the degrees through which the table 6 has been. revolved thereby making it possible to reset the table at any time to a desired position which is especially ad'vantageous'in this art as will be readily recognizedi' In the present instance, when the table -6 isin a horizontal position the indicator 41-0 will register with the index zero and the dial is graduated by the indices 39 into ninety degrees upon each side of this-index zero.

Of course it will be understood that=any other suitable arrangement of the indices 2 I may be used to advantage if s'odesired, the

present instance merely being illustrated as an example.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the fixture will be readily understood without a more extended explanation. As numerous changes inform, proportion,: and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of this invention, I do not wish'to be limited to the construction herein shown and described other than as claimed.

Having thus described what'I claimv as new is In combination, a table, a fixed jaw mountmy invention,

ed on the table, said table provided with a slot, a movable jaw having a shank passing through the slot, means for locking the movable j aw in a fixed position, a block mounted on the table and having a shank passing through the slot, means for engaging the shank of the block for locking the block in a fixed position, and a screw element threaded in the block and adapted to engage the movable jaw. 1

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses. H

COURTNEY T. MALE.

'Witnessesr FREDERICK Swear, I HUGH-J. MALE." f 

